Acceptable male weight loss

[jplehmann]

Just last week I began pairing a 1000g spinnerblast male x 1500g enchi female 3 days on 3 days off -- both of which I got a month ago. I'm 75% sure I saw them locking up last week, which is exciting. But the SB hasn't eaten for me yet. I am guessing its because he has been breeding, even before I got him and he's gone off eating.

I know when the males are not eating during breeding you need to watch their weight. Question is, how much weight is an acceptable weight loss? I think he's only lost 20g since I got him.

[dr del]

Did you get them from the same place?

But no that level of weight loss is well within poop and pee parameters.

[jplehmann]

Thanks Dr Del, yes I did.

I guess my Q is, how many months / how many grams can I breed him and not be worried that he's not eating? His condition/size/plumpness looks very healthy (not fat but medium).

By the way, here's the alleged lock.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

To me it's really not about weight it's about an overall look for both males or females.

If the male start looking too lean / skinny and is not eating I will pull him out of rotation either temporarily or permanently.

Keep in mind that males don't need to get around the same female more than once a month for 2 days.

And at a 1000 grams there is nothing to worry about.

A little trick during breeding season keep you male in the smallest tub possible when not breeding, it helps with feeding.

[jplehmann]

Thanks Deborah, I tried moving him from his 28q to 15q last night, and I left him a weaned size rat overnight -- and he ate it! That's the first time I've gotten him to eat since I got him about 5 wks ago.

[Albert Clark]

Thanks Deborah, I tried moving him from his 28q to 15q last night, and I left him a weaned size rat overnight -- and he ate it! That's the first time I've gotten him to eat since I got him about 5 wks ago.

Congrats to you and to him. I went through the same thing with my pastel pied 1.0 recently. He weighed 900gms prior to breeding two of my 1400gm females and he lost about 100gms over a two month period. Of course he went off feed as well and had me worried! I took him out of the rotation and he continued to refuse over about a 1 to 1.5 month period. I offered him mainly live mice to get him started but he continued to refuse. He refused f/t as well, both mice and rats. I even tried f/t chicks as a alternative but no go! I then found some info on problem feeders and followed the steps outlined there and was successful in getting my male back on feed. If you want to check out the treatment you can visit his webpage. Its www.darkmanreptiles.com and its on the first page. Good luck and stay in peace not pieces. A.C.

[jplehmann]

I then found some info on problem feeders and followed the steps outlined there and was successful in getting my male back on feed. If you want to check out the treatment you can visit his webpage. Its www.darkmanreptiles.com and its on the first page.

Ideas 1 and 3 seem typical enough -- but has anyone ever heard of the 2nd idea: give them a 30-40 warm bath in a tub (much like before helping them shed). Then feed 2 days later? Never heard that one before.

[Albert Clark]

Ideas 1 and 3 seem typical enough -- but has anyone ever heard of the 2nd idea: give them a 30-40 warm bath in a tub (much like before helping them shed). Then feed 2 days later? Never heard that one before.

Your welcome, and at www.darkmanreptiles.com he does mention that the procedure may or may not work for you but it works for him. It worked for me also! It certainly cant hurt to try it. Good luck and best wishes.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Thanks Deborah, I tried moving him from his 28q to 15q last night, and I left him a weaned size rat overnight -- and he ate it! That's the first time I've gotten him to eat since I got him about 5 wks ago.

Great to hear, that is why I like to keep breeder males in smaller enclosure during breeding season